Raiders' Pryor expects to play Sunday

Saturday

Dec 15, 2012 at 1:10 AMDec 15, 2012 at 4:10 AM

ALAMEDA, Calif. — General manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen are intent upon taking an extensive look at every player on the 53-man roster, especially those who haven't played much this season.

Contra Costa Times

ALAMEDA, Calif. — General manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen are intent upon taking an extensive look at every player on the 53-man roster, especially those who haven't played much this season.

That process is well under way now that the Raiders are out of playoff contention. Just don't expect to see players such as quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom and defensive end Jack Crawford from the outset Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I don't see any real major changeups as far as the starting lineup's concerned, but we do want to see some of these guys get in some game action," Allen said. "How much that is, I don't know exactly right now. A lot of that, the game will dictate what that is."

McKenzie said he particularly wants to see what Pryor can do in a regular-season game.

"That's the only way I can evaluate him is to play him," McKenzie said Nov. 30. "Now, when he plays, how much he plays, that will be up to the coaching staff but, yes ... .This is a good time to try to figure out what works best for him.

The Raiders selected Pryor in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft in 2011. He has played one snap in 29 regular-season games in his NFL career.

Allen said a package of plays designed for Pryor to run was installed a few weeks ago. "The biggest thing is to start getting him into the game a little bit and let him see a little game action," Allen said of Pryor. "I'm not ready to say that he'd be a starter."

Pryor said he didn't receive many reps during practice this week. Just the same, he is anticipating playing.

"I know I'll be a tiny bit nervous," Pryor said. "I haven't played in awhile. Just pray through it and go out and do what I do. Progressions, no turnovers, have fun and smile. That's it, at the end of the day. And Monday, learn, whether I did good or bad."

Tight ends Brandon Myers, Richard Gordon and David Ausberry were on equal footing during the offseason as the Raiders searched for a replacement for jettisoned starter Kevin Boss.

Myers quickly asserted himself as the heir apparent to Boss. Playing time for Ausberry and Gordon has dwindled as the season has progressed. They played one snap each in Oakland's most-recent game.

"We've had a chance to look at these guys a little bit," Allen said. "We kind of know what we've got in these guys. They're still in the lineup, and they'll still be used pretty much the same way we've used them."

That means a steady diet of special-teams play and very little playing time on offense.

Defensive tackle Richard Seymour (hamstring) missed practice Friday, but there's still a chance that he will play against the Chiefs, Allen said.

Seymour has missed the past five games with an injury he suffered Nov. 4 against the Buccaneers.

Strong safety Tyvon Branch (ankle, neck) returned to practice, and he is in the same boat as Seymour for Sunday. Allen said both will be evaluated before the game and a decision on their availability made at that time.

The Raiders sold enough tickets for the game to avoid the NFL blackout, so Sunday's 1:25 p.m. game will be broadcast locally on CBS.

Seven of the Raiders' eight 2012 home games have made local television, with just the Dec. 2 Cleveland Browns game blacked out locally.